Author: Feather (Flightf)

Warnings: Spoilers all the way through Twelve Sharp.

Disclaimers: I own nothing…JE owns it all….I will return everything when I am finished. I am basing the strip aerobics on two programs Shelia Kelly's the S Factor and Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease.

Rating (K-M) M

A/N: This is the 1st story in my Pole Dancers Diary Series. Reviews and comments always welcome. I would like to send a thank you Stayce who fixed my terrible grammar and offered wonderful advice. Also, I need to thank Elissa who convinced me that my dialogue was in character.

Chapter 2: A Remote, Bag, and a cell phone… Happy New Year Stephanie Plum!


I dropped a grape and a few popcorn kernels into Rex's cage and watched as he scurried out of his soup can to stuff his cheeks and run back into safety. I grabbed my corona and a huge bowl of popcorn and settled onto the couch to watch the ball drop. I flounced onto the coach with a thump and searched for the remote. I started with the cushions and I sent them flying across the room. By the time I was convinced that it wasn't in the couch I was 5 bucks richer. Of course it was all in loose change. I put the cushions back on the couch and I lay down on the floor to see if it had been kicked under the couch. It was dark so I really couldn't see anything. I decided to chance it and I stuck my arm under the couch and did a quick sweep. Nothing but an arm full of dust bunny's, coughing and gagging I sat on my hunches trying to figure out where it might have disappeared to. I stood up and surveyed the room, as my eyes landed on the bag sitting next to the couch I sighed. For the past seven days I had been able to ignore the bag, I had been able to just pretend that it didn't exist. Denial is my greatest talent and I try to make the most of it. I eyed the bag from across the room and I wondered if those five bucks would buy me a new remote. Damn I would have to touch the bag.

I crossed the room sucking down half the beer to give myself liquid courage. I stopped about five feet from the bag and I wondered why I was petrified of the bag. I have gym bags, sure they never see the light of day and I'm not even sure if I could find them in the black hole that I call my closet, but I do own them. If you can eat dinner with your family you can open a gym bag, I told or persuaded myself. I grabbed the handle of the gym bag and dragged it over to the couch. I sat down with the stupid thing in front of me and I looked at the floor and there was the remote. I quickly grabbed the remote and hit the little red button. I watched a few minutes of Justin Timberlake's performance and decided that Ghostbusters was in order. I popped in the dvd and snuggled into the couch, at about a quarter till midnight my cell started ringing. As I passed the gym bagged, I grimaced. I turned off the movie and hit the mute button, and then I picked up the phone and looked at the caller ID.

"Hey Joe," I said as I flipped it open.

"Cupcake, I was starting to worry that you weren't at home."

"Where else would I be? I'm 30, all my friends are out with their dates and my boyfriend had a secret assignment so he had to work tonight." I said in a grumpy voice.

"Cupcake, you know I would be there if I could. Bob misses you." The background noise was starting to get louder. I could hear some music and laughing in the background.

"Bob is staying with your sister, he is not missing me." I replied in my most pissy voice. "Where are you anyway? It sounds like you're at a party!"

He took a deep sigh, "Stephanie, you know I can't tell you. I'm am working that's is all you need to know. Look, I just wanted to say Happy New Year and tell you that I missed you."

"Joe I miss you too…" I started but in the middle of my sentence he cut me off.

"Look Cupcake, I've got to go. I'll try to call soon. Bye" and he disconnected.

I tossed the phone on the sofa and looked at the clock, 5 minutes until 2007 and here I sit on the couch all alone. I sat there and looked around my apartment. I let my eyes scan all the things that belonged to me and then my eyes rested back on that damn bag. It was like we were having a staring contest trying to decide who'd win. My cell phone rang and made me blink, so the bag didn't really win. Again I checked the caller ID.

"Yo"

"Yo yourself. Babe, your sounding a little frazzled tonight, anything I can help with?" Ranger asked, damn I could hear the smile in his voice.

"No. I was just startled. So what's up?" I said trying to sound normal.

" I just wanted to wish you a Happy New Year! I thought that I would be leaving a message though. What are you doing home?"

"Joe had to work, so I am at home celebrating with Rex. What are you doing alone tonight isn't there someone you should be celebrating with?" My stomach turned as I said the words, holding my breath waiting for his answer.

"Babe. I am working tonight. I tried to give as many of the guys off tonight as I could. " He said sounded a little irritated.

The air came out of my lungs with a whoosh and I glanced at the TV just in time to see the ball drop and 2007 to light up the screen.

"Happy 2007 Babe."

"Happy 2007 Ranger." I said with a heavy heart. I watched the screen as all the couples were hugging and kissing. Wishing that he were here to kiss me.

"Me too, Babe, me too. I need to check the monitors Babe." He said reading my mind again.

"Bye" and I noticed that the phone was already disconnected.

I closed the phone and picked the remote and turned off the TV. Again my eyes found the bag. That damn gym bag. I know that the classes start this week but surely not tomorrow, not on New Years Day. I would open the bag tomorrow. Yep tomorrow in the light of day, so I could see things better. I stood up said goodnight to Rex and headed towards the bedroom. I turned around and looked at the bag like I had every night for the past week , it was like it was calling me. Sttteeepphhanie, open me. You know you want to. Don't be a chicken. Damn the bag is calling me a chicken. All I could do was glare at the bag. "I'll show you who's the boss! I yelled across the apartment. I stuck my tongue out at the bag, marched into my bedroom, and I like had every night for the past week, I slammed the bedroom door. Ha! I win.